Assembly Begins Passing the State Budget

Budget makes tough choices in order to protect access to health care for New York families

April 1, 2008

Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster/Dutchess) announced last night that the Assembly began passing the legislation necessary to enact the 2008-2009 State Budget.

“Confronted with a continuing downturn in the economy, a multi-billion dollar deficit and a new administration determined to have spending plan in place quickly, we are working together to enact a state budget that makes the difficult decisions necessary to move the state forward,” said Assemblymember Cahill.

In identifying continued access to affordable health care as a top priority the Assembly advanced a budget bill that will strengthen New York hospitals, nursing homes and health care programs. Mr. Cahill said, “By modernizing our approach to emphasize primary and preventative care, restoring cuts to protect the integrity of our health care delivery system and investing in programs designed to lower costs and improve access to physicians this budget will help improve the quality of care in the Hudson Valley and Catskill regions.”

In total, the final state budget for 2008-2009 provides approximately $49 billion for health care in New York State; it restores $453 million in health care reductions, including a restoration of $408 million in Medicaid cuts proposed by the Executive.

“This additional funding is critical, not only to the families that depend on these services, but also in helping counties, like Ulster and Dutchess, avoid local property tax increases,” said Mr. Cahill. “By covering more of the uninsured and enhancing primary care our local hospitals will also see a significant savings through the reduction in the number of costly visits to their emergency rooms that in the past would have had to be absorbed by the institutions in accordance with our bad debt and charity care laws.

“As the economic outlook continues to darken on many families throughout New York, maintaining and improving access to quality care has to be one our preeminent concerns,” said Mr. Cahill. “This budget, while making some tough choices, reflects those priorities.”

Health Budget Highlights

• Fully funds the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) extending eligibility from 250% to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, providing coverage for the estimated 400,000 children in New York currently without access to insurance and without further burdening our counties
• Restores millions of dollars to New York’s health care facilities – including $129 million related to hospital reform initiatives – and maintains critical new funding for hospital and non-hospital clinics and critical care centers
• Restores $62 million in proposed reductions in home care and rejects the proposed Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) rate freeze at the 2005 level
• Fully restores $170 million to nursing homes to meet the reimbursement reform initiatives authorized in the 2006-07 Budget, and provides an additional $30 million for a restoration of workforce recruitment and retention
• Creates a discount prescription drug card for New Yorkers 50 to 64 years old and for people with disabilities
• Maintains the specialty HIV pharmacy program under Medicaid
• Maintains the exemption of antidepressant medication from the Preferred Drug List, ensuring these medications remain available and affordable to those who need them
• Creates the “Doctors Across New York” program, which will expand health care to underserved areas, and a further study of future inclusion of other health care professionals such as dentists, midwives, nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants

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